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Suit alleges JCPS employees dislocated 5-year-old's elbow

A 5-year-old student at George Unseld Early Childhood Learning Center suffered a dislocated elbow after two school employees used "excessive" force while restraining the youth in March 2016, a newly filed lawsuit alleges.

Suit alleges JCPS employees dislocated 5-year-old's elbow

A 5-year-old student at George Unseld Early Childhood Learning Center suffered a dislocated elbow after two school employees used "excessive" force while restraining the youth in March 2016, a newly filed lawsuit alleges.

The child, identified only by the initials H.M., was restrained on the floor by his arms and legs by bus monitor Monica Taylor after he got out of his assigned spot in line as he waited for the school bus, according to the suit brought by his aunt and guardian Ericka Traynor.

Early childhood teacher Bernice Caldwell then "suddenly and forcefully grasped, and roughly tugged" the child's arm upward, the suit alleges, causing the boy to scream and cry in pain.

The boy's radius, an arm bone, was dislocated at the elbow in the alleged March 23, 2016, incident at the school, 5216 Ilex Ave.

The employees acted unreasonably and were insufficiently trained on how to properly restrain a young child without causing harm, the suit claims.

Louisville attorney Shaun Wimberly Sr. is representing the young boy. The suit, filed Monday in Jefferson Circuit Court, seeks monetary damages for physical and emotional pain as well as a jury trial.

Taylor, Caldwell and Jefferson County Public Schools are named defendants in the suit.

JCPS spokeswoman Jennifer Brislin declined to comment on the allegations, saying the school district doesn't publicly discuss pending lawsuits.

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at 502-582-4989 or mglowicki@courier-journal.com.